Brain Tumor
Brain tumours can present with different symptoms and signs, depending on their size, location, and growth rate. Commonly, patients present with:
- Persistent headache, usually worse in the morning and often associated with vomiting
- Weakness of limbs and poor balance
- Poor memory and difficulty with speech
- Epileptic seizures
- Hearing loss and visual loss
- Certain Brain Tumour are Hormones Producing, These present either due to Pressure effects causing visual field defect in pituitary adenoma. Hormone Production eg
Acromegaly or Gigantism
Over production of growth hormone will cause acromegaly in adults & gigantism in children.
Cushing’s Disease
Over production of ACTH, more common in females, where obesity, moon-like face & hunch-back are the characteristic features.
Prolactinoma
In this over production of prolactin can cause loss of libido, infertility, watery discharge from nipple, & irregular periods.
These patients only require medical treatment unless the tumour is big enough to cause visual symptoms.
1- Brain Tumour.
Benign Tumour
e.g. Meningioma (Tumours of Brain covering), Acoustic neuroma (tumour of hearing nerve)
Pituitary Adenoma– (Tumour of pituitary gland)
Craniopharyngioma– Usually in children Located near visual apparatus
2- Malignant Tumour
– usually arise from brain tissue and known as Glioma, Ependymoma
Medulloblastoma Usually in children and located in the back of brain, notorious for headache, vomiting, poor balance and visual loss.
3-Metastatic Tumour
These actually come from Breast, Lung, Intestine and Lymphomas.
Also known as secondary in the brain & primary in the organs mentioned above.
Other Brain Disease which need attention of Neurosurgeon
• Hydrocephalus
Increased volume of water (cerebrospinal fluid) in the brain ventricles.
This can be high pressure and normal pressure (commonly in old age).
• Congenital Abnormalities
– Arachnoid cysts
– Arnold Chiari malformation
– Nasal encephalocele
• Scalp cyst, scar & other lesion
All kind of scalp & skull bony lumps & bumps are dealt by our group.
Brain Infection
Brain Abscess
- This is usually associated with long standing Ear or Sinus infection. Can present with Headache, vomiting, weakness of one side, poor balance with or without fever.
- Sometimes abscess is due to Tuberculosis and Fungus which can present with same symptoms & signs but needs special attention towards treatment.
Head Injury
Incidence is 300-400 per 100000 of population per year. More common in youth and bread winner age. Intime management can save life and prevent complications.
Best treatment of Head injuries is “not to Happen Head injury” i.e prevention by the use of Helmet, Seat-Belts and Head goes for the builders, horse rider even cyclists.
In patients who suffer. head injury, may need operations for Extradural Clots (clot underneath bone) Subdural Clots (clot under the brain covering) Intracerebral
(clot inside the brain substance) Depressed fractures, CSF rhinorroea and
rarely for epileptic seizures.
How you prepare
Our healthcare team discuss how to prepare for brain tumor surgery. You’ll need to have a physical exam and testing and take some precautions to prepare your body.
Tests before brain tumor surgery may include:
- Neuropsychological testing. This tests the way that you think, remember and solve problems. Your healthcare team compares these results with later tests. The results may be used for planning and rehabilitation after surgery.
Brain imaging, such as MRI or CT scans. These tests take pictures of your brain and spine. They can help your healthcare team plan your brain and spine surgecal procedures. The images can determine the size and location of tumors. spine discs and any other abnormality in the brain and spin. You may have a contrast injected through a needle placed in a vein in your arm, called an IV. The contrast material helps the tumors and infections to show up more clearly in the scans.
You may have a special type of MRI called a functional MRI (fMRI) before brain tumor surgery. An fMRI shows small changes in blood flow when you use certain areas of your brain. This can help the surgeon avoid areas of the brain that control functions such as speech or moving your arms or legs.
- Blood tests. It’s common to have a blood test before brain and sergical procedures to check your overall health and levels of chemicals in your blood. Theses tests are essential for anaesthesia when ever required for procedures.